7/31/2019 Velez's Letter

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Dear Ann Arbor Church Family;

Nearly a year has passed since Dr. Samuel Pipims repentance and membership removal by

this church for a moral fall. During that time, the Ann Arbor Leadership, Elders and I have

worked carefully to nurture him through the rebuilding of his spiritual defenses. As a result, we

had planned his baptism for this Sabbath afternoon, June 9, 2012. On Thursday night June 7,

2012, I received a call from a member of our church with a concern. For over two years he and

his wife had information that implicated Dr. Pipim in another moral situation. For reasons, known

to them, they did not share that information. Therefore it was unknown until Thursday evening,

both to the Elders, myself and the Conference Leadership. On Thursday night, the member and

I went to Dr. Pipim with the story. Early Friday morning, June 8, I was notified by Dr. Pipim that

the information was true. This brings great sorrow to our hearts.

I called Pastor Gallimore, Conference President, this morning, Friday June 8, and shared with

him the results of our visit. We both concurred that the baptism should not go forward given this

new information.

After that phone call I visited with Dr. Pipim this morning. He also agreed with us that the

baptism should not take place. While canceling this baptism brings grief, disappointment and

ache to our minds and feelings, we are committed to the ministry of forgiveness and restoration.

The Elders and Church Board will work through this latest situation with the hope of someday

seeing everyone involved restored to the Savior and the church family.

Thank you for your prayers, support and encouragement through this time. While the enemy ofsouls rejoices over our sorrow, we have a sympathizing Savior who does not want one soul to

perish. How grateful we all are to experience the costly forgiveness of our Savior. So as long as

our High Priest, Christ Jesus, pleads for all of us, we are committed to do all we can to foster

His ministry of reconciliation.

In the Blessed Hope,

Pastor Danny Velez,

Pastor of the Ann Arbor Seventh-day Adventist Church